MARCUS Davis could be next on the radar for Nottingham's Dan Hardy.

"I certainly think it would make an exciting fight," said Hardy, following his sensational 69-second demolition of Rory Markham on UFC 95 at a packed O2 Arena.

Hardy's ultimate goal is Canadian champion Georges St Pierre – sometime in 2010.

"There are some guys I need to pick off on my way up to him," said a realistic Hardy, who is going back to America to train at the Legends Gym in LA.

"There are so many good guys in my division and I know I've still got improvements to make. But my goal right now is three solid wins this year.

"But whoever the UFC send me next, I'll be ready. It's up to the UFC. All I do is train and fight. I think I've proved I can get the job done. I'm excited about the fact that America now knows who I am.

"Marcus is a great fighter. I'm a fan of his. I like watching all of his fights.

"He's had a couple of fights in the UK and he's kind of building himself a fan base, but he's not English; he's not Irish.

"I was born here, and I've been bred here. I don't mind taking on that challenge and showing him this is my home and not his."

Davis (16-4) has posted 13 wins in 14 fights and notched a split-decision victory against the veteran Chris Lytle at UFC 93 in Dublin.

Hardy, 26, has arrived as a major star on both sides of the Atlantic after destroying Markham.

"Dan really arrived as a major star on both sides of the Atlantic," said UFC spokesman Anthony Evans.

"He was watched by over six million in the USA alone."

UFC 95 drew a crowd of 13,268, with a live gate of just over $1m and Hardy felt that he made his point in emphatic style.

"He had a lot of faith in his chin," said Hardy, who has now won ten of his last 11. The only loss was against Yoshiyuki Yoshida in a 2007 Cage Force fight in which he was harshly disqualified.

"I wanted to go out there and prove that I can stand there with the best of them and trade punches. I was confident I could hit him and not get hit. I had something waiting for him – a left hook. I don't know where it came from, but it was magic."